Dispensing device



p 20, 1966 w. TAYLOR, JR Y 3,273,823

DISPENSING DEVICE Filed March 24, 1964 INVENTOR l V/LL/AM Z WLO/ P, JR

BY KM. LEFEVEI? ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,273,823 DISPENSING DEVICE William Taylor, Jr., 2215 W. Indiana Ave., Elkhart, Ind. Filed Mar. 24, 1964, Ser. No. 354,354 4 Claims. (Cl. 242-129) This invention relates to a dispensing package. Particularly the invention relates to a dispensing package and 'device which is useful for the storage, transport, and dispensing of coiled materials. More particularly the invention relates to a sturdy, easily manufactured dispensing device, which is simple to construct and yet sufficiently strong to make it useful for a number of industrial applications involving handling of coiled materials.

Briefly stated the device of the instant invention comprises a dispensing package which consists essentially of two symmetrical members each in the form of an inverted U and having base or leg members lying in a plane vertical to the plane of the U-shaped member and at a radial angle thereto. When these twosymmetrical members are super-imposed one on the other and there is formed a dispensing package in the form of a reel or spool having an upright spindle and a base consisting of four diametrical opposed legs that are in the same plane.

Thus, this invention has as an object the provision of a dispensing package for coiled materials which may be loaded or unloaded from transporting equipment without damage to the material.

A further object of the invent-ion is to provide a dispensing package which permits dispensing of coiled materials with a minimum of twisting or damage.

A further object of the invention is to provide a storage and dispensing package for coiled materials such as wire, rod, bar, tubing, cordage, cable, rope, strip, sheet, etc. which may be of metal, paper, fiber, plastic, rubber or any combination thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide a dispensing package which permits the storage and transport of a continuous sheet of metal either in the form of narrow strips which are successively radially layered upon the dispensing device, up to and including a wide strip which utilizes substantially the complete depth of the dispensing device.

A further object of the invention is to provide a dispension package for coiled material which is capable of being nested or stacked one within the other when loaded or unloaded so as to reduce storage area requirements and to permit handling of a plurality of packages at one time.

A further object of this invent-ion is to provide a dispensing and storage device which is adaptable to commercially available pay-off equipment, dispensing being accomplished by radial revolution or in a non-revolving helical pattern.

Other and further objects of the invention will be disclosed as the description proceeds.

Briefily stated the package device to which this invention is directed comprises a pair of symmetrical support members each having an opposed pair of U-shaped legs or bases which are integrally joined to an upright holding member. The base or leg members are in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the U-shaped medial portions and are at a radial angle thereto such that when two of the symmetrical units are super-imposed with the centers of the upright portions coincident and at a 90 angle one to the other, a completely symmetrical unit is provided for welding or otherwise permanently fastening into a light yet strong device.

The invention will be more explicitly described by reference to the attached drawing in which:

3,273,823 Patented Sept. 20, 1966 FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one of the two symmetrical basic units of the device;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of two basic units assembled;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the assembled device; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the assembly of the invention.

Turning now to the drawing, reference numeral 2 refers to an upright or vertical medial or leg which is diametrically opposed to an identical leg 4. The legs are bent at the top forming an apex portion 6 through a angle at 8 and 10. The center portion of apex member 6, as shown at 12, is coved or flattened by one-half the diameter of the member 6.

The lower extremity of medial portions 2 and 4 are bent at right angles as is shown at 14 and 16 to form base or leg portions 18 and 20 which are diametrically opposed and form approximate 180 angled bends. Leg members 18 and 20 lie in the same plane; a plane which is perpendicular to the plane of the inverted U p composed of members 2, 4 and 6. In addition a vertical plane through the center of base members 18 and 20 would in tersect the plane of the inverted loop formed by 2, 4 and 6 at an angle of approximately 45, that is to say, the base members are formed at a radial angle to the plane of the medial portion of the device. This is more clearly shown in FIG. 2. This design permits the formation of a continuous symmetrical figure which is desirable from the standpoint of simplicity and strength.

FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 illustrate the complete unit wherein two of the basic units are super-imposed one over the other with the apex portions crossing at a right angle. (Prime numerals are used to describe corresponding parts of a second basic unit.) With particular reference to FIG. 2 the two units are spot-welded or otherwise permanently joined together with five simple welding operations indicated .at 22, 24, 26, 28 and 30. The coincidence of the two coved or flattened apex midpoints shown at 22, each one half the thickness of the material of construction, permits the base member of each of the pair of basic units to lie in the same plane. In addition these coinciding coves also serve a self-locating function and permit rapid assembly without the necessity of welding or fitting jig fixtures. It is thus to be seen that a simple and sturdy device may be manufactured of tubular material either in the form of a hollow pipe or a solid rod with a minimum of reverse and compound bending and forming which thereby reduces stress within the lone supporting section of the device and provides maximum structural strength.

It is to be understood, of course, that minor variations from the construction described are within the purview of those skilled in the art. One such variation involves the bending of the free end of the base portion in an approximate 90 flare angle away from the center of the base so that it will lie parallel to the adjacent portion of a super-imposed leg member. Another variation is the formation of a separate half loop downwardly at any point in the base or leg portion to raise the base a sufficient distance from a supporting surface to allow the fork of a lift truck to slide thereunder. It is also contemplated that the basic unit could be formed into symmetrical units such as would result if the unit as shown in FIG. 1 was severed at 12 and thereafter four such units symmetrically positioned and unified by a welding operation.

It is contemplated that a major use of the dispensing package of this invention will be for receiving coils of strip metal. So far as is known storage, dispensing and transport of such material in a package of this type is not known. The resultant ease of handling of such material and the protection of the package of this material against edge bending and end. damage normally associated with handling by lift trucks, chains, cables and so forth would be impressive. For the purpose of such materials handling it is preferred that the medial portions 2 and 4 be substantially perpendicular.

It is also to be noted that when medial portions 2 and 4 are substantially perpendicular there exists in the completed unit a dynamic balance. This is highly desirable since such balance prevents the development of gyration when the dispensing package is rotated at high rpm. in a pay-off reel. With prior art devices wherein the medial portions 2 and 4 are not perpendicular but are inclined at an angle such dynamic unbalance develops to result in gyration and wobble at high pay-off speeds.

Other and further modifications of the inventive concept may be contemplated. It is intended that such modifications be included within the scope of the above description and that protection be afforded only by the appended claims.

NVhat is claimed is:

1. A dispensing package tor coiled material which coinprises two U-shaped elements, each element having a pair of substantially vertical medial members joined together by an upper apex member and a pair of U-shaped base members lying in a plane substantially at right angles to the plane of said medial members at a radial angle thereto.

2. A dispensing package for coiled strand material which comprises two U-shaped super-imposed tubular elements each having a pair of substantially vertical medial members with a pair of U-shaped base members at right angles thereto, said medial members being connected at the top end thereof by an apex portion which is coved in the center thereof, the two tubular elements being disposed at right angles to each other with their respective coves coinciding, the said base members being disposed radially from the plane of medial members such that the end of each base member abuts an adjacent base memher, and said coinciding coves and said abutments being welded together to form a unit.

3. A dispensing package according to claim 2 wherein said abutting end of said base member is coved to coincide with the abutted adjacent base member.

4. A dispensing package for coiled material which comprises a pair of U-shaped members having a U-shaped apex and a pair of opposed U-shaped bases, said U-shaped bases lying in a plane which is substantially perpendicular to the plane formed by the pair of said U-shaped members having a U-shaped apex, and said bases being radially disposed with respect to said plane formed by said pair of U-shaped members, said apex being coved at the center thereof, said U-shaped members being disposed at right angles to each other with said coves coinciding and with the ends of said base members abutting an adjacent base, said point of coincidence and said points of abutment being welded together.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,916,152 12/1959 Dull. 3,021,010 2/1962 McMasters.

FRANK J. COHEN, Primary Examiner.

MERVIN STEIN, Examiner.

L. D. CHRISTIAN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A DISPENSING PACKAGE FOR COILED MATERIAL WHICH COMPRISES TWO U-SHAPED ELEMENTS, EACH ELEMENT HAVING A PAIR OF SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL MEDIAL MEMBERS JOINED TOGETHER BY AN UPPER APEX MEMBER A PAIR OF U-SHAPED BASE MEMBERS LYING IN A PLANE SUBSTANTIALLY AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THE PLANE OF SAID MEDIAL MEMBERS AT A RADIAL ANGLE THERETO. 